Method for generating electrical potential



Patented Mar. l, 1932 UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE SAMUEL RUBEN, OF NEW YORK, N.4 Y., ASSIGNOR TO RUBEN PATENTS COMPANY, OF NEW ROCHELLE NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE METHOD FOB GENEEATING ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL .Application led March 6, 1930. Serial No. 433.830.

This invention relates to a method for generating electrical potential, and more particularly it relates to such a. method for the generation of otential directly from heat due to the com ination of dissimilar materials without the use of mechanical or magnetic devices. The invention constitutes an improvement upon my invention described in my coending application filed September 17 ,1929,

earing Serial Number 393,307, and has as an object the provision of a thermo-chemical method for generating potential with a high eiiciency.

The present invention utilizes a principle of operation which is entirely novel; it Vemploys the heat of formation of a compound between certain electro-positive materials and a relatively electro-negative material.

When certain alkali metals, such as potassium and sodium are placed in contact with a relatively electro-negative material, such as mercury, and an amalgam is so formed, a potential is generated at the point of contact, corresponding to the energy liberated by the reaction in forming the amalgam.

By the terms of my invention continuous current is generated by distilling an amalgam in one chamber in a vessel, partially condensing the vapors of distillation within a lmanifold and adjacent the vaporizing chamber, and in a dierent area. condensing the uncondensed vapors and discharging those later condensed vapors in contact with a conductive body as a section of the manifold, into contact with a body containing alkali metal in another chamber and thereby forming a further amalgam, and carrying away heat of the amalgam reaction. A. part of the conductive body is in juxtaposition to the amalgam in the second chamber, and, with the content of that chamber, is connected in an externalv electrical circuit. The newly formed amalgam is passed to the vaporizing chamber for re-vaporization, the method being thus carried on in a cycle. If the temperature at the vaporizing chamber is suiliciently high, with the electro-negative v'apors a small amount of the alkali metal may be vaporized and carried up with a. slight amount of amalgam into the manifold connecting with the second or amalgamation chamber. To prevent this action, a partial cooling or condensation is effected by cooling plates provided about the connecting manifold just above the vaporizing chamber, so that the vapors of the alkali metal and any escaping amalgam are condensed before such passage and are forced to remain within the vaporizin chamber. Eii'ecting the partial condensation justV above the vaporizing cham- 50 ber constitutes an important improvement upon the method described in my prior and co-pending application to which reference is hereinbefore made. While mercury is selected as a desirable material, other elements such .as bismuth or their amalgams can be used satisfactorily. As the relatively electro-positive material, potassium has been found to be a very practicable element for this application; but other alkali metals such as rubidium, caesium, sodium, etc., can be used. The invention may be best understood by reference to the following description of the accompanying drawing illustrating an embodiment thereof, showing a section view thereof in which 1 represents a highly evacuated vessel of refractory glass partially thermally insulated by covering 1b, and containing in chamber 2, an amalgam of mercury and potassium 3. Air cooled plates 7, are emff ployed as a rectifier means to condense any potassium vapor or amalgam that may have been'carried over with the mercury due to the partial pressure of that material in the boiler chamber. These condensed materials are returned directly to the boiler, allowing the necessary pure'mercury vapor to be carried over into condenser 7.. Thev temperature maintained at the air cooled radiator 7, is of course, above the boiling temperature of the distilled mercury vapor. Above chamber 2, is manifold 5, which projects into metal tube 8, the lower end of which is tapered and has a small orifice at the bottom, close to the material. in the second chamber. Surrounding and extending below tube 8, is chamber 2. and, connecting chambers 2 and 2., are conduit 10 having a trap therein, 11, and lower conduit 12. Connecting with manifold 5, is inlet pipe 6, controlled by a valve for intro- 10 In chamber 2. is a body of potassium or a weak amalgam 3., which is maintained' at an approximate level with that of amalgam 3,1n c amber 2, b conduit 12. A cooling system 9, is placed a out the lower ortion of chamber 2.. Tube 8 and potassium body 3., are used as terminals for connection in an external electric circuit. At 1. is a ni ple through which vessel 1 is evacuated to as gh a degree as is practicable previous to the operation of the apparatus.

As heat is applied to the mercury-potas sium amalgam 3, in chamber 2, mercury, and

possibly a slight amount of potassium and,

amalgam, are distilled from the `amalgam, passing through manifold 5. Any potassium vapors and amalgam are condensed by cooling plates 7 and precipitated back into chamber 2, the mercury vapor passing on through the conduit. The temperature of the amalgam in condenser 7, is maintained above-the vaporizing tem rature of mercury. In the area surounde by cooling element 7 the mercury vapors are condensed, the metal flowing through metal tube 8, and its orilice to the top of potassium body 3.,.and there forming an amalgam with it. Some of the heat generated in the reaction forming the amalgam is carried oi by cooling member 9,the cooling iiid being applied only in sutcient quantity to dissipate the heat enerated by the combination between the a aline metal and the mercury. When the mercury {iow-l ing out of the metal nozzle makes contact with the potassium or weak amalgam in chamber 2., an amalgamation of the metals is effected and a otential is there generated which is transmitted through the circuit comprisin the recipitating metals, the metal tube, t e ama gam 3. in the reaction chamber, and the external circuit represented by ter- `minals 13 and 14.

The amalgam or reaction product formed in chamber 2., raises the level of the liquid in that chamber so that it gravimetrically flows back through conduit 12 to boiler chamber 2. The temperature difference between the two amalgams also serves to promote the iiow of the newl formed amalgam to that in the heated cham r. Trap 11, serves to prevent the passage of vapor from chamber 3. to chamber 2, and likewise serves to prevent the passage of the product of distillation fromv chamber 2 to chamber 3.. The exhaustion of the entire apparatus to the vapor pressure of the matenals contained therein serves to maintain at a minimum the energy necessary for the vaporization of the materials. In some cases it might be desirable to add an inert gas such as helium to assist in cooling. The temperature of the first condenser should not be brought to the point at which the potassium solies; it must be maintained in a liquid alfata..

-tential which consists in disch i ducing the mercury amalgam and potassiuma What I claim is:

1. The method of generating electrical poar gastream of mercury mto a body of potasslum, the said stream and said body of potassium being connected in an external conductive circuit.

2. The method of generating electrical potential which consists in discharging a stream of mercury into a bod of an alkali metal, the said stream and sai body of alkali metal, being connected in an external conductive circuit.

3. 'I'he method of generating an electrical potential which consists in dist' an amalgam of mercury and an alkali metal, partially condensing the distilled vapors over the body of amalgam and recipitating the condensed material back to t e body of amalgam, later condensing the uncondensed mercury vapor and precipitating the condensed mercury vapor to and amalgamating it with a body of alkali metal, carrying oif heat enerated by forming the amalgam, and passing the second mentloned amalgam into the first mentioned amalgam.

4. The method of generating an electrical potential which consistsvr in dxstilling in an atmosphere containing an inert gas, an amalgam o mercury and an alkali metal, partially condensing the distilled va of amalgam and precipitating the condensed material back to the body of amalgam, later condensing the uncondensed mercury vapor and precipitatin the condensed mercury vapor to and ama gamati it with a bod of alkali metal, carrying onieat generate by forming the amalgam, and assing the second mentioned amalgam into the first mentioned amalgam.

5. The method of generating electrical potential which consists in discharging a stream of mercury into a bodyof potasslum in an atmosphere containing an inert gas, the said stream and said body of potassium being connected in an external conductive circuit.

6. The method of generating electrical potential which consists in dischar a stream of mercury into a body of an a al1 metal in an `atmosphere containin an inert the said stream and said bo y of alkali metal being connected in an external conductive circuit.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 3rd day of March, A. D. 1930.

SAMUEL RUBEN.

pors over the body 

